Meeting called to order at 1615 hours.

Minutes from the previous meeting and the treasurer's report were tabled as the secretary/treasurer was not able to attend today's meeting.

Committee Reports

Training

• Daniel Rakes reported that 56 people had registered for the Fall Seminar in Roanoke. The Training Committee is looking for a location in Northern Virginia for the 2004 Fall Seminar. Frank Teevan and Kerwin McNamara are heading up the search. The most probable location noted at this time was the Woodbridge area. There was discussion about looking at other areas, possibly the Winchester area. The committee will report back as location information becomes available.

• The committee is in the process of finalizing the 2004 Spring Conference in Virginia Beach. Dates for the Spring Conference are May 24, 25 and 26, 2004. Tentative dates for the 2004 Fall Seminar are October 25 and 26, 2004.

• There was discussion on the possibly of the 2004 VFPA Fall Seminar conflicting with the 2004 VBCOA (Virginia Building Code Officials Association) Annual Conference. J.D. Mitchell (VFPA representative to VBCOA) reported that the 2003 VBCOA was being held in Virginia Beach at the same time as the VFPA Fall Seminar in Roanoke. VBCOA would like to see better coordination between the two organizations in scheduling meetings. Doing so would allow members from both organizations to attend each others functions. The dates for the 2004 VBCOA Conference were not available at this meeting. Everyone agreed to stay with the October 25 and 26, 2004 dates.

• Discussion was held on state funding of training classes. State funding has been cut due to state budgetary problems. There is the possibility that other organizations in the state are still receiving funding. Dennis Mitchell said he would check at the next Fire Services Board meeting in December and would ask Adam Thiel (Department of Fire Programs Director) as to who was getting what. Dennis also noted that we should continue applying for grants for state funding. Daniel Rakes is currently working on a grant application in the amount of $6,000 for conference and educational funding.

• J.D. Mitchell reported that VBCOA and VPMIA (Virginia Plumbing and Mechanical Inspectors Association) are interested in holding a joint conference with VFPA in 2005. The location is tentatively listed at the new convention center in Hampton. This would take place in the fall of 2005, most likely the last week in October. The joint conference would allow for separate organizational meetings, multiple class offerings and cracker barrel / round table discussions. The board is interested but would like more details before making a commitment.

• Gary Huffman reported that at the chapter presidents meeting held in Nashville in September, the ICC is proposing the reorganize of the existing BOCA membership chapters. ICC is proposing regional chapters made up from state chapters. The state chapters would be made from local chapters. Virginia currently has three BOCA chapters, VFPA, VBCOA and VPMIA. The proposal would eliminate chapters in other states in which there are several chapters in each county or locality. This change could affect future training offered by ICC. This idea has just started. We will have to watch and see how this starts to develop.

Training Committee members for 2003-2004
Daniel Rakes, Chairman
Robin Preese
Frank Teevan
Kerwin McNamara

Technology Committee
• J.D. Mitchell reported that the VFPA web page is continuing to evolve. It is being worked on almost daily in order to keep information current. A page has been created to allow for online sales of VFPA merchandise. Discussion was held as to if we need to be charging sales tax for items purchased off of the website. J.D. advised that he had emailed Frank Teevan (VFPA Secretary/Treasurer) and had asked him about sales tax. Frank didn't think we needed to charge. Dennis Mitchell added that we really need to be sure in order to avoid any problems in the future. He would check with someone knowledgeable in tax law and would advise the Board as soon as possible.

• J.D. also reported that he had picked up the laptop computer, being used for the VFPA database, from Frank. J.D. is in the process of extracting member information for the website. He is concerned that the information appears to be inaccurate and incomplete. For example, there are members listed as working in jurisdictions that they have not worked for in some time. He is working to resolve these issues and reformat the database. The Board thanked J.D. for all his work in creating an informative first class website for the Association.

Technology Committee Members for 2003-2004
J.D. Mitchell, Chairman

Legislative Committee
• Jeff Flippo opened discussion on the lobby contract for David Bailey. He is working to get matching funds from other organizations in the state to continue to compensate Mr. for all the work he does for VFPA. More info as it becomes available.

• Jeff noted that the General Assembly should be releasing bills that they are working on sometime in November. They are being watched for any items that the Association needs to be aware of or take action on.

• Discussion was held on participation in "The Day at the Capitol." This program allows the opportunity to meet Virginia General Assembly Members and Virginia State Legislators. A Motion was made by Gene Wills, second by Dennis Mitchell, to allot up to $600 for VFPA to participate in the Day at the Capitol. Motion carried.

Legislative Committee Members for 2003-2004
Jeff Flippo, Chairman
Russ Acors

Code Review Committee
• Dennis Mitchell will cover under Fire Services Board report.

Code Review Committee Members for 2003-2004
Steve Hall, Chairman
Dennis Mitchell
Gary Huffman
Elaine Gall
Raymond Rinaldi

Merchandise Committee
• Daniel Rakes reported that sales are going very well. We need to reorder XX and XXL shirts. Prices on the Kozys have been reduced from $2 to $1.

• Daniel passed around a VFPA pin that had been designed sometime back. He inquired if the Board would be interested in purchasing pins for members. Costs would be for ¾ inch diameter pins, $1.08 for 500, .98 for 1000, 7/8 diameter $1.10 for 500. A motion was made by Dennis Mitchell, second by Gene Wills, to purchase 500, ¾ inch pins using existing art work and colors picked by Daniel. Discussion if 500 would be enough to allow each member to get a pin and give other people, such as General Assembly Members, a pin. The motion was amended to purchase 600 pins. The amendment passed and the main motion to purchase pins passed.

Merchandise Committee Members for 2003-2004
Daniel Rakes, Chairman

Membership Committee
• J.D. Mitchell noted that the Department of Fire Program area offices were being changed to division offices and would mirror the same divisions as the Virginia State Police. J.D. asked the question if it would be in the best interest of the membership to change the VFPA Regions to mirror the same. This would provide consistency and eliminate confusion. Board members feel this would be a good idea but will require a Bylaw change to go from four regions to seven regions. Dennis Mitchell said he would work on a Bylaw change.

• J.D. requested Board input on an idea to increase membership. The idea is at all future conferences and seminars any non members would be charged a registration fee $30 over what current members would pay. The $30 fee would be applied toward membership in the Association. Board members liked the idea and asked J.D. if this could be a motion. He agreed. The motion was seconded by Judson Flournoy. Motion carried.

Membership Committee Members for 2003-2004
Frank Teevan, Chairman
Daniel Rakes
Robin Preece
Judson Flournoy

Bylaws Committee
• No Report

Bylaws Committee Members for 2003-2004
Dennis Mitchell, Chairman
J.D. Mitchell
Jeff Flippo

Fire Services Board Report
• Dennis Mitchell discussed the proposed changes from the code hearings in Nashville. The Fire Services Board Code Committee has a lot of work ahead of them. They will have to review all changes and review NFPA 1 and NFPA 5000.

• Dennis also noted that Phil Paquette (Chairman of the Virginia Fire Services Board) has appointed him (Dennis) to be the Fire Services Board representative on the Board of Housing.

• The Fire Services Board will be funding life safety trailers, fire and life safety materials and fire and life safety kits for kids. These items will be made available to each Department of Fire Programs area offices/divisions.

• Next Fire Services Board meeting is December 5th and 6th.

• Applications for the Governor's Fire Service Awards are available. Fire prevention is one of the categories in the awards. Dennis would like to see VFPA make a nomination for an award. (Dennis noted a nominees name but it will not be included in these minutes in order to maintain the element of surprise.)

Old Business

New Business

• Daniel Rakes noted that the Virginia Forest Products Association is also using the initials "VFPA". Their logo resembles the Associations logo very closely. They were founded in 1958 under a different name. It has only been the last couple of years that they have been using VFPA. It was also noted that the Association was founded in 1968 and has consistently used VFPA to refer to the Association. Discussion as to what should be done, possibly registering VFPA exclusively to the Association. Judson Flournoy (Flo) will check into the requirements for registration as well as other options.

• Flo commented on the door prizes and raffle at the Spring Conference. He said that it was successful. There was positive and negative feedback. The positive comments out weighed the negative ones. There would be door prizes and raffles at the Fall Conference. He is also seeking donations of merchandise, prizes, etc. for the 2004 Spring Conference. He already has a television lined up. Anyone that can assist in obtaining donations should contact Flo.

• Jeff Flippo noted that Rodney Ferguson was elected President of IAAI.

Respectfully submitted,
J.D. Mitchell